Serious measures should be undertaken to control inter-state vehicular and people movements since we also observe a rising trend of imported COVID-19 casesJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), at a meeting in Jakarta on Monday, stressed on the significance of controlling population movement in Indonesia's areas bordering with neighboring nations to contain the transmission of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"Serious measures should be undertaken to control inter-state vehicular and people movements since we also observe a rising trend of imported COVID-19 cases," the president noted in his remarks at the meeting on discussing the acceleration of efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Jokowi recently paid a visit to several provinces to witness up-close the COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
At the meeting, President Jokowi commanded government officials to deliver whatever is deemed necessary to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts.
President Jokowi also drew attention to the criticality of continual public awareness campaigns and the people’s participation in the nation's fight against this lethal virus.
As of Sunday (July 12), Indonesia had recorded 75,699 COVID-19 patients, with 35,638 recoveries and 3,606 deaths.
The virus has spread across the country’s provinces, with the highest number of cases recorded in East Java, reaching 16,658, followed by 14,517 in Jakarta, 6,973 in South Sulawesi, 5,473 in Central Java, 5,077 in West Java, 4,146 in South Kalimantan, 2,653 in South Sumatra, 2,323 in North Sumatra, 2,267 in Papua, 2,195 in Bali, 1,660 in North Sulawesi, 1,593 in Banten, 1,550 in West Nusa Tenggara, and 1,196 in Central Kalimantan.
During his visit to Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province, on June 25, 2020, President Jokowi had underscored the significance of striking "a balance in pushing the brake and accelerator pedals in managing the public health and economic crises."
"In its place, we cannot also focus solely on health issues. However, it causes disruption to the economy. I have repeatedly informed regional leaders to push 'the brake and accelerator pedals' in a balanced mode. This is now challenging," he asserted.
In order to address this reality, President Jokowi has called upon the nation to have the mental fortitude, since all countries, including Indonesia, are reeling from public health and economic crises arising from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The public health and economic crises, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have undoubtedly encumbered several nations.
"The disease has not solely affected Indonesia since it has spread to 215 countries," President Jokowi pointed out.
To ensure that the country trounces over this pandemic, President Jokowi has appealed to Indonesians to remain sentient of the significance of practicing measures mandated by the healthcare and COVID-19 protocols, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowds.
Hence, the people, at large, must not harbor the wrong notion that since it is the new normal era, it is unnecessary to wear face masks while venturing outdoors and to practice physical distancing measures to break the chain of the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Translator: Rangga PAJ, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
